How to Make Acrylic Keychain?

So you’ve got a great design—a little frog holding bubble tea, or maybe a dreamy pastel girl surrounded by floating cats—and now you’re wondering: how do I turn this into a real keychain I can hold in my hand (or even sell)?

If you’re an illustrator or designer looking to bring your artwork into the real world, acrylic keychains are honestly one of the easiest and most faithful ways to start. Unlike other merch (looking at you, plushies and figures 😅), keychains don’t need huge investments, and the final product often looks really close to your original design.

In this post, I’ll show you two ways to make acrylic keychains:

• A simple DIY method (great for personal use or super small batches)
• And how to work with a manufacturer (perfect when you’re ready to go pro)

🎥 Start Here: Watch This Video First

Before we dive into the DIY part, I gotta say—this tutorial is super beginner-friendly and skips a lot of advanced stuff. If you’re the kind of person who likes seeing the steps before reading them, here’s a quick video you can follow along with.

🧷 DIY Acrylic Keychains at Home

If you’re just making a couple of pieces for fun—or maybe you’re testing out ideas before going all in—DIY is a fun and budget-friendly option. You won’t need any fancy tools, and you can totally get everything online.

Here’s what you’ll need:

🛒 Supplies List

• Printable shrink film (for inkjet printers, often labeled as “inkjet shrink plastic”)
• Your design (in JPG or PNG format)
• Inkjet printer
• Scissors or precision knife
• Hole punch
• Oven or heat gun
• Baking tray + parchment paper or aluminum foil
• Keychain parts (like jump rings and lobster clasps)
• Optional: UV resin + UV lamp (for a glossy finish)

🧰 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare your artwork.
   Create your design using any software you like (Procreate, Photoshop, Canva, etc). Make sure the size is about 2.5x larger than what you want the final piece to be—shrink plastic usually reduces to 1/3 of its original size. If your design has text, remember to mirror it horizontally before printing.
2. Print your design.
   Load the shrink film into your inkjet printer (smooth side facing down unless stated otherwise), and print using the “best quality” setting. Let it dry for a few minutes before handling.
3. Cut it out.
   Carefully cut around the design using scissors or a craft knife. Be as neat as you can—it’ll really show in the final piece. Then use a hole punch to make the keychain hole near the top.
4. Preheat the oven.
   Set it to around 320°F (160°C). Place a sheet of parchment paper or foil on your tray to prevent sticking.
5. Bake the pieces.
   Put your designs on the tray, colored side up, and pop them in the oven for 1–3 minutes. They’ll curl up (don’t panic!), then flatten again. Once they’ve flattened and stopped moving, take them out.
6. Press them flat (optional).
   Sometimes they don’t flatten completely. While still warm (but not too hot), you can press them gently with a flat object like a book or acrylic block.
7. Add a finish (optional).
   Want a glossy, more durable surface? You can coat the top with UV resin and cure it under a UV lamp. Or use clear nail polish for a DIY shortcut (though it might yellow over time).
8. Attach the keychain parts.
   Use a jump ring and lobster clasp to complete your keychain. And just like that—you’ve made your own acrylic keychain 💫

🧭 When You’re Ready to Go Bigger

Here’s the thing: DIY is fun, but if you want your keychains to look clean, polished, and professional, working with a manufacturer is the way to go. Especially if you’re planning to sell them, or just want better finishes.

And no, the process isn’t scary or complicated.

All you need to do is:

1. Find a manufacturer (like us 😉).
2. Submit your design and tell us what you want (size, style, quantity, etc).
3. Approve the sample, and let the factory handle the rest.

✨ So… What Can You Actually Make?

Way more than you think. Factories offer all kinds of cool effects and finishes that are hard (or impossible) to do at home. Here’s a quick visual summary:

And in one batch order, you can mix and match styles—like combining a holographic top layer with a glitter back and a gold edge. Pretty wild, right?

That’s the fun of working with a pro factory: your idea gets leveled up into something unique, eye-catching, and super high quality.

💬 Final Thoughts (and a Shameless Plug 😎)

Whether you’re DIY-ing for fun or launching your own merch line, making acrylic keychains is such a rewarding first step. You’ll literally be holding your art in your hand—and trust me, that never gets old.

If you’re ready to make your designs real (with factory-level finishes and affordable MOQs), we’d love to help! Just head over to our site and drop us a message with your design. Our team will walk you through everything, no pressure.

Happy making 💖